The Cheviot
Hills, from which this breed of sheep gets its name, form the border line
between England and Scotland. The Cheviot Sheep Society was formed in 1890
and is one of the oldest sheep societies in existence.

History

The Cheviot Hills, from which this breed of sheep gets its name, and where
its improvement has been so long and carefully studied, form the Border line
between England and Scotland. From the date of Bannockburn, or earlier, to
that of the Union, there is no reliable information further than that sheep
were in 1372 "a small, but very hardy race over large tracts of the Cheviot
Hills".

During the next four centuries any effort at improvement would most likely
relate to the wool. As the church owned considerable portions of land in the
hills, and as cattle were the chief plunder of Border Reivers, the care of
the best class of sheep may have been with the Monks. Attonburn - attached
to Kelso Abbey - may have been distinguished for its sheep in those days, as
it is now.

Merino sheep were brought from the Continent in considerable numbers, and
as Berwick was a shipping port of importance, an infusion of foreign blood
would be easy. Three thousand Merinos were brought to England in 1480 and a
similar consignment arrived in the time of Mary and her Spanish husband in
1560.

There is no doubt that the pioneer of the improvement of the Cheviot was Mr.
James Robson of Belford, Roxburghshire, a farm in Bowmont Water. He travelled
through England looking for the sheep best suited for his purpose. These he
found in Lincolnshire and he bought three rams from Mr. Mumby at Barton-upon-Humber.
These were big close-coated sheep. When mated with the narrow shouldered, short
wooled ewes, there was a vast improvement in the produce, particularly in the
fore quarters, while the wool clip increased 20 per cent. Rams from Belford
became very popular and their influence spread all over and beyond the Cheviot
Hills.

In the latter part of the 18th century Sir John Sinclair strongly recommended
it for the North of Scotland where they became very popular. Increased development
of cloth manufacturing added to the importance of wool growing, and no wool
could compare with the Cheviot in making the durable "Tweeds" for
which the Border towns of Selkirk, Galashiels and Hawick became famous.

In 1832 The Highland Society began its exhibition and the earnest attention
of enthusiasts was given to the improvement of the breed. James Brydon, Moodlaw
and Kinnelhead, held biennial sales of his rams at Beattock, and the sheep
were in great demand. In 1855 he sold 169 sheep of various ages, from lambs
to six year olds, at an average of nine pounds thirteen shillings, while ten
years later he sold the same number at an average of fourteen pounds fourteen
shillings.